ABSTRACT

This study seeks to evaluate the impact of rural industrialization on development in Nigeria using Nnewi (Anambra State) as a case of study.

Rural industrialization is seen a antireform to the rapid urbanization of Nigeria urban center through the process of rural urban migration as migrants from rural areas drift to cities in search of jobs, high income, better living condition and infrastructural facilities present there.  The above was made possible by the skewed regional imbalance of industrial location in the country which tends to be biased disappropriately in favour of the urban centers.

Nnewi is one of the major industrial cities in Nigeria.  Noted for its automobile spare part business.  Nnewi houses more than 30 functional industries with the industrialists taking full advantage of the Nkwo Market which is one of the biggest auto spare parts market in Africa.

Unfortunately, the rapid industrialization of Nnewi town seems to be creating some serious social and environment problem in the town.  It is against this backdrop that this research was embarked on to identify this problem, evaluate there effect on the inhabitants of the Nnewi town and proffer solution to the identified problems.

The design used in this research is the case study, using twenty-three (23) itemized and validated questionnaires which was prepared to help the researcher elicit information from the respondents drawn from the town of study, Nnewi.  A population sample of 335 made up of 200 males and 135 females were randomly drawn for the study.

The major finding of the study were at 0.05 probability level. T-test was also used in data analysis.  The finding of the study revealed that in as much as rural industrialization is seemingly indispensable in Nigeria now, there is serious need to check the hazards and social ills that are associated with unplanned urbanization of the rural area through industrialization.  This is a matter of necessity.

Finally, the finding of this study seems to have strong favour for rural industrialization but at the same time, strongly oppose unplanned rural industrialization.

CHAPTER   ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1              BACKGROUND TO THE SUBJECT MATTER

Nnewi, one of the three urban towns of Anambra State is located 37 kilometers sough of Awka the Anambra State Capital and 98 kilometers East of Enugu the old regional headquarters of Eastern Nigeria.  It is the headquarters of Nnewi North Local Government Area.

Nnewi area landness of about 298o 80sq. and has an estimated population of about 300,000 people presently.  (The 1991 population census figure was 201,203 people).

Nnewi shares a common boundary with Ozubulu in the West and is also bounded in the East by Ichi and Orikife in the South while Ufu and Ukpor bounded it at North.

Nnewi town is made up of four administrative interdependent autonomous communities namely:

i.        Ofolo,

ii.       Usuagu

iii.      Umadi         and

iv.      Nnenuchi.

All of which in corporate many clings more than anything also, the origin of Nnewi is perhaps the most controversial in Nnewi history.  Opinions on this differ widely and range form possibilities, hence my decision to side live the controversy and resume my study from the pre-industrial era of Nnewi.

PRE-INDUSTRIAL ERA IN NNEWI

From very early times, the inhabitant of Nnewi were farmers.  They cultivated yam, cassava, cocoyam, reaoton etc. they also engaged in other activities like animal husbandry, poultry, fishing, forestry and food processing.  Nearly all were farmers or his hands while even they doctors, teachers, store-sceegess and blacksmiths were display involved in an agricultural as a way of life.  All faced common hoplessness before the awesome natural forces, which lied beyond human control.

Nnewi people tried to produce nearly everything they consumed since in a rapidly expending economic with chronic shortage of money and credit, subsistence and economic was a socially useful adaptation.  Status was measured in terms of hand barns and livestock.